Is a written off Porsche 996 Turbo a good buy?

A friend just drew my attention to this Porsche 996 Turbo which is being sold on an auction site. It’s a Cat D write-off – which means an insurance company has deemed it uneconomical to repair.

Cat D cars can be a cheap way into Porsche ownership so long as you are able to do the repair cheaply but – crucially – at the same time properly. Which you may be able to do if you have access to workshop facilities and use second-hand parts.

A nearly new 911 Turbo would require massive damage to be written off but these days when you can get 996 Turbos for well under £30,000, relatively minor damage will result in a write-off, which can be good news for someone looking for a project.

Bear in mind that the car will always have a Cat D status and, as such, will be worth about 20% less than usual.

This Turbo looks tempting at first sight, especially with bidding sitting at £6500. However, I wouldn’t want to pay more than £10,000 for it, as the cost of repair is bound to be more than expected. Also, any cheap 996 Turbo is bound to need other things sorted out which will push the price up. Go in with your eyes wide open!